2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE KNOCK SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 256,518.

I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK ON A CITY STREET IN BROOKLYN, NEW YORK ( FLATBUSH AVE) WHEN I SUDDENLY SMELLED SMOKE FOLLOWED BY FIRE COMING FROM THE HOOD. I DID NOT HIT ANY BUMP AND WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, THE ENTIRE FRONT COMPARTMENT OF THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE.

SINCE I GOT THE CAR, THE IGNITION KEY DOES NOT GET IN PROPERLY AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT START THE CAR. THE MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL HELPS SOMETIMES. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN LEAKING ENGINE COVERS THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STRUCTURE GETS RUSTY AND THERE IS PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA 4RUNNER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL BECAME DISABLED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PROGRAMMING OF THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RECONFIGURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

ON 7/7/12 I WAS DRIVING FOR A DOG RESCUE TRANSPORT AND NOTICED A STRONG FUEL SMELL IN THE VEHICLE. I THOUGHT NOTHING OF IT AT FIRST SINCE I HAD JUST FILLED UP THE TRUCK AND A GAS CAN. WHAT I DID NOTICE WAS MY GAS GAUGE WAS DROPPING INCREDIBLY FAST SO I LOOKED FOR A CLEAR AREA ON SHOULDER THAT SHOULD THE TRUCK CATCH FIRE. (VERY DRY IN NJ AT THE TIME) I FOUND MY AREA AND SHUT TRUCK OFF AND DRIFTED INTO THE SHOULDER. EXITED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN RUSHING TO EMPTY THE SEVEN DOG CRATES (JUST IN CASE) ON THE SHOULDER BEHIND GUARD RAIL. ONCE WE WERE ALL CLEAR, I WALKED OVER TO VEHICLE AND POPPED HOOD. THERE WAS FUEL SATURATING EVERYTHING, INCLUDING STILL DRIPPING FROM INSULATION MATERIAL UNDER THE HOOD DIRECTLY ONTO AND AROUND THE EXHAUST AREA. BY TOYOTA DESIGN, THERE IS A CLIP THAT RETAINS/SEPARATES TWO...